US Lawsuits May Flood China Drywalls

Houses made with drywall produced in China have been plagued with numerous safety and health issues. Now a lawsuit brought by U.S. homeowners is targeting the Chinese drywall sector. From Asia Times:

In a 108-page ruling issued on April 8 on behalf of seven homeowners in Virginia, Judge Fallon awarded more than US$481,000 to one family alone. The judge has been presiding in New Orleans over a consolidated class action lawsuit known as the “Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation” which combines several lawsuits from different US states.

The ruling could lead to a flood of lawsuits in US state courts around the country involving builders and suppliers after all sorts of problems surfaced in thousands of homes where drywall – gypsum plaster panels used to construct interior walls and ceilings – made in China was installed early in the past decade. An arm of the Chinese government, and a drywall company controlled by that entity are named in the lawsuit, Germano, et al v Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. [1]

“There are cases set for trial in June in Florida against builders; and, in September, there are seven cases set to go against the homeowners’ builders, installers and distributors of the Chinese drywall,” said Julie Quinn, a state senator from Louisiana, where many of the damaged homes are located.